Local Reporter, West Coast

Position description

Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, defending, and empowering public-interest journalism, is hiring a reporter to support the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, the canonical‬‭ news database documenting press freedom violations in the United States.‬ 

Reporting to the Tracker’s senior reporter, this position will join the Tracker team reporting on press freedom violations across the United States, with special attention paid to those taking place in regions operating on Pacific time. The reporter must have excellent news judgment and will learn to apply Tracker category thresholds for classifying threats faced by the media. The reporter will gather information to make determinations on incidents for database‬ inclusion, and then thoroughly verify the events and swiftly report on them for publication.‬ ‭

Responsibilities

• Juggle breaking news updates with long-form written analysis and in-depth enterprise articles, writing clearly while placing events within the context of larger press‬ freedom threats
• Cultivate source relationships and press freedom knowledge
• Develop and execute long-form investigative or research projects
• Coordinate with team members and partner organizations, help organize campaigns‬ around major incidents
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the senior reporter

Qualifications

Must have

• An interest in protecting the press freedom rights of all through detailed reporting and a passion for the First Amendment
• Five-plus years of print/digital reporting and researching background, with reporting experience in the press freedom space as well as local reporting and source development. Or equivalent reporting experience in relevant beats (courts, police, crime, public safety, etc.) 
• ‬‭Willingness to follow up on story leads, verify information, and stay on top of developing‬ news
• Ability to use open sources, including court records and social media, to identify, research, and verify news stories
• Strong social media skills to disseminate and amplify stories in a compelling way
• The ability to write quickly and accurately
• Track record of collaborative mindset
• Strong data analytic skills

Preferred

• Knowledge or expertise in encryption and secure newsgathering tools
• Multimedia skills, including in graphics and audio/visual editing
• ‭Familiarity with FPF’s production tools: Google Workspace, GitHub, Mailchimp, Wagtail
• Fluency in Spanish, Mandarin, or Arabic

Working with us

This is a full-time role with a competitive nonprofit salary in the range of $80,000-90,000, depending on experience. This position will preferably be based in Los Angeles, although strong Pacific time-based remote candidates will also be considered. For more information on our full benefits package, please visit our website’s careers page. 

FPF does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual or reproductive health decisions, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity and expression, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, carrier status, citizenship, veteran or military status, and other personal characteristics protected by law.

How to apply

If you think you’d like to be a part of our team, please submit your résumé, a cover letter (no longer than 1 ½ pages), and three solo-bylined news clips demonstrating prior reporting on press freedom issues, courts, and/or breaking news. 

After an initial application review, FPF’s hiring process involves a phone screen with HR, an interview with the hiring manager, and an at-home test. For candidates moving to the final stages, an organization-wide panel and a final meeting with our executive director will follow.